SolderSmoke Podcast #188: Blue Rig, 6U8 RX, Dial strings, Hamfest, VFO Builds, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast #188 is available.

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke188.mp3

Audio "sparkle"

Bench Reports:
Pete: Blue Rig, Amplifier Project, LBS and Simpleceivers around the world
Si5351s in the new Elecraft KX2

Bill: 
Mighty Midget Mate 6U8 RX Refinement
Using a Millen 61455 IF can
Broad, but beautiful. But not as nice as PA3GSV's
Tweaking a VFO the old fashioned way
Reduction Drive Re-works.
A Confession:  Using Amplified Computer Speakers

Back to the lipsticked pig.  Pete convinces Bill to fix the S38-E
dial cord. 

Manassas Hamfest Report.

Field Day.

Mysteries:

Who is WV2YAU

Who sold Bill the hombrew SWR meter at Manassas?

MAILBAG

Hardcore Homebrew SWR Measurement

No store-bought, appliance, CB-ish Radio Shack SWR meters for the OM who built the SWR sensor on the right.  No! He rolled his own center conductor and pick-up loops.   Dennis Klipa and I have been exploring the theory behind SWR meters,  so when I saw this thing, I immediately went for it.  I picked it up at the Manassas Hamfest.  I kick myself for not asking the seller for the story behind this project. If anyone has any ideas on how/why/who built this thing, please let me know.  The seller was tailgating close to the stables at Manassas on June 19, 2016. 

Low Field Day Score Leads to Club Disbanding

Sad.  But failure has consequences my friends.

http://hamhijinks.com/finger-pointing-name-calling-as-club-fails-miserably-at-field-day/

Thanks to Jeff Murray K1NSS for alerting us to this sad situation.  

Useful Boards From Whole Foods

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that this chain of stores is sometimes referred to as "America's Temple of Pseudo-Science" but I just don't seem to find a lot of radio-useful stuff in Whole Foods.   However, at the check-out stand this week something caught my eye:  Grilling Planks!  Who knew?   Apparently you soak these boards ("Sustainably Produced in the Pacific Northwest - USA") in water, then you grill your food on them.  They are available in various wood types -- above you can see Cedar and Hickory.  I put the Altoids can in there for a size reference. These grilling planks seem well suited to serve as breadboard-style chassis, front panels  or even cabinets for homebrew rigs.  

Free Book!

I decided to make my book "Us and Them -- An American Family Spends Ten Years with FOREIGNERS" available to a wider audience. The suits at Amazon Kindle allow me to make it available in e-book Kindle form FOR FREE for a five day period starting today. So this would be a good time to put a copy in your Kindle. I think it would be a good book for the beach.

Please spread the word -- let friends know of the free book offer.

Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Us-Them-American-Family…/…/B00L8DR4RK

SolderSmoke HQ Station WINS Field Day! Again!

First, I need to make clear that that is NOT me in the picture above.  This year I chose to compete as an "E" station:  "At home, with the air conditioner on, but using a battery instead of the normal AC poser supply."  This is, of course, only one step from the bottom on the laziness scale -- I did hook up the 12 volt gel-cell.

But I made up for it with an unusually large dose Knack-ness.   I used my BITX Digi-Zia scratch-built homebrew SSB transceiver.  So, with my whopping 11 contacts I feel confident that I won the "1E Homebrew SSB Transceiver, Northern Virginia" category.    

NASA'S New Mars Recruiting Posters

More like this one here:
http://marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/resources/mars-posters-explorers-wanted/


Bill,

Doesn't this fabulous artwork remind you of the 1950-60's era and the intense interest we all had in space and spacemen?
http://marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/resources/mars-posters-explorers-wanted/

I recall there was so much inspiring artwork showing men in spacesuits, even though at the time it was before we had put men in obit around the earth never mind set foot on our moon. Packets of breakfast cereal came with plastic model spacemen and rockets.

It struck me that amateur radio will play a huge part for those who venture to Mars and Phobos, as they will need the type of people who have the practical abilities to improvise and repair equipment while severely restricted in the availability of spare parts.

NASA should do a poster showing an intrepid Mars Soldersmoker with his workbench with some piece of electronic equipment in pieces.
73
David GM4JJJ
-------------------

Jeff K1NSS? 
http://www.dashtoons.com/

Arecibo in Danger

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/230637-flat-science-budgets-could-kill-the-arecibo-observatory-the-worlds-largest-telescope

Some Sympathy from the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

Hi Bill,
Pete "The Crossword Guy" K4PHS here again.
In the New York Times Crossword for Tuesday June 21, 2016 the clue for 52 across is:
"Enough, Enrico!"
And the answer is:
"Basta!"
72, Pete, K4PHS

And from October 5, 2015

Hi Bill,

The clue for #7 across in todays New York Times Monday Mini Crossword puzzle is:

“special talent”

And, of course, the answer is KNACK!

72, de K4PHS Pete
"Keep Calm and Melt Solder"

An Excellent Morning at the Manassas, Virginia Hamfest

I was quite pleased with the valuable items obtained at the Manassas Virginia Hamfest this morning.  Armand WA1UQO and I once again combined forces, offering each other advice and counsel (NO!   Forget it!) as we went through the flea market. 

Above you can see what I got:
TOP ROW: 1)  A bunch of boxes.  Nice aluminum boxes and two really good chassis.  I may now have to build something with thermatrons.   Armand gave me a really nice Ten-Tec box.  Thanks Armand!
MIDDLE ROW 2)  Ten much needed coax patch cords.  I promise to check the connections before using them.  Really.  I mean it this time. 
3)  A nice circular coax switch.
4) Two large hemostats.  I told the woman I needed them for some surgery that I'd be performing later in the day.  She was not amused.
5) A homebrew SWR Monimatch box.  Amazing.  Dennis Klipa and I have been talking about these, so I bought this homebrew version.
6) Nice Jackson Brothers reduction drive with tuning indicator. 
7) Really nice variable cap.
8)  Three crystals: two for 3.579 MHz CBLA work, the other for 40 meter phone.
9) Forehead "coalminer" lamp
10)  Some PC boards.
BOTTOM ROW 11) LARGE box of 455 kc IF transformers

As we were making the rounds we ran into Charles AI4OT.  On the tailgate of his truck Charles had a BITX20 in operation!  You can see it in the picture.  Great to see you Charles and FB on the BITX.